GAIL (India) plans to set up around 26 Bio CNG plants over the next two to three years, both as producers as well as joint venture partners with raw material suppliers or biogas producers.
The natural gas company along with joint venture (JV) partners is likely to invest up to Rs 1,300 crore, which includes equity contributions of 30 percent. The company has issued an expression of interest (EoI) across India, for companies qualifying with certain parameters to form JVs for raw materials such as paddy straw, municipal solid waste as well as sugarcane press muds.
Earlier, in February, Gail had announced plans to import ethane from ethane-surplus countries to be transported through its pipeline systems to demand centres. It has inked a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Shell Energy India for importing ethane, and other hydrocarbons, and for developing evacuation infrastructure at Shell Energy Terminal, Hazira.